LSU Discover Day
Undergraduate Research & Creativity
Conference

Louisiana State University's annual undergraduate conference, LSU Discover Day, showcases the research and creative works completed by undergraduate students across all majors and from any accredited college or university. This one day event allows for students to present their work through poster, oral, art, performance, and visual display presentations. 

Interested undergraduate students are encouraged to apply to present at the conference, and visitors are welcome to attend to view the student presentations!

 

The 13th Annual LSU Discover Day will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026 in the LSU Student Union

Application for student presenters coming soon!

 

Two students smiling for photo in front of their research posters

Student with their art installation project

 

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STUDENT PRESENTERS:

 

Presenter eligibility: 

  • Undergraduates from any accredited college or university.
  • Undergraduates of any classification (freshmen, sophomore, junior, or senior).
  • Undergraduates from any major.
  • There is no GPA requirement.
  • Applications will be sent to your designated faculty mentor or instructor for approval.
  • Students must be currently enrolled undergraduates with a graduation date of spring 2026 or later.
  • Each student must submit an abstract or artist statement of 250 words maximum with the online application

Please note: 

We understand that some projects will not be complete by the application due date. Students are welcome to submit applications for incomplete projects.

Students whose work is not complete by the event date can present a “progress report” or “state of my project” presentation.

November 2025 Applications Open
February 20, 2026 Applications due before 11:59pm
February 27, 2026 Mentor approval forms due (these forms are automatically emailed to your mentor when you submit an application)
March 4, 2026 Application decisions sent via email.
March 20, 2026 Presenter registration fees due. Accepted presenters will be sent a link to pay the registration fee.
April 15, 2026 Slides due for oral presenters and performance presenters
April 17, 2026 Discover Day!

This presentation format is for students who wish to present a poster which summarizes their research. Our poster stands are 4 feet by 4 feet in size and your poster cannot be any larger than the poster stand. The standard conference poster measures 3 feet x 4 feet and can be built in PowerPoint or similar programs.

For students who plan to present a poster larger than our poster stands, please select the Visual Display presentation format described below so that we can accommodate your poster. 

Poster presenters must be in attendance for the duration of their assigned 2-hour poster session. Poster presenters should be prepared to give a short explanation (1-3 minutes) of their poster to judges and visitors, and answer any follow-up questions.  

All posters should include the presenter(s)’ and co-authors’ names and email addresses. All funding sources should be acknowledged in an “Acknowledgments” section on the poster as well.

Group presentations: Due to the set-up of the poster sessions, no more than 2 students from a group presentation may stand in front of their poster at a time.  If your group has 3 or more presenters, you will need to rotate presenters.

Free poster printing: Discover Day presenters (poster and visual display) can request to have their poster printed for free by emailing a PDF copy of your poster to lsuour@lsu.edu before April 10.  Posters must be no larger than 36" by 48" and in a .pdf format to be acceptable for free printing.  

LSU A & M students who miss the free poster printing deadline are encouraged to have their posters printed at the Main Library's Print Desk on the first floor which offers the most affordable poster printing.

Click here for tips on how to create and present posters.

Click here to watch the video “Building Your Research Poster: Design and Construction”

Click here to watch the video “ Building Your Research Poster: Delivery”

Students who wish to deliver an oral presentation, with or without visual aids, should choose this format. Oral presenters will each be given 15 minutes for their presentation. Presentations should be 5-10 minutes in length leaving at least 5 minutes for questions from the judges and audience members. As a courtesy to the other presenters, oral presenters must remain in their assigned presentation room for the hour in which they are scheduled to present.

Oral presenters will be grouped into a schedule based on presentation topics and disciplines.  A moderator will be present to call students when it is their turn to present and to take questions from the audience.

Slides in PowerPoint format for oral presenters who wish to present a slideshow are due before 5:00pm on April 15, 2026. Instructions for submitting your slides are included in your presenter confirmation email.

Students will NOT be allowed to open files from cloud or thumb drives during the event as this slows down the schedule and technical issues typically arise eating away at the presenter's allotted time.

When you arrive at your assigned room, your presentation will already be loaded onto the presentation computer by our staff.

This presentation category is for students who wish to present non-art objects for display.  Examples of such items include, but are not limited to: models, specimens, laptop/screen displays, prototypes, and oversized posters (larger than 4 feet x 4 feet).

Visual Display presenters may also present a poster alongside their object(s) but this is not required.

Visual Display presenters must be in attendance for the duration of their assigned 2-hour session. Visual Display presenters should be prepared to give short (1-3 minute) presentations to judges and visitors who stop by their displays. 

Visual arts presentations (Art Show): Students may apply to present a piece, or pieces, of visual art such as paintings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, etc.  Students must upload images of their pieces into their application for review for acceptance. Presenters in this category must be in attendance for the duration of the 2-hour Art Show. Presenters should be prepared to speak briefly (3-5 minutes) about their piece(s) and answer any questions from judges and visitors. Set up and take down instructions will be emailed to Art Show presenters after acceptance to Discover Day.

Performing arts presentations: This format is for students who wish to present a musical, theatrical, or dance performance.  Students may present an original or authored piece. Performers will have a maximum of 10 minutes for the performance with 5 minutes allotted for questions from the audience. As a courtesy to the other performers, student must be present for the hour in which they are scheduled to perform.

Poetry readings: This category is for students who wish to recite an original piece of poetry.  The presenter will have a maximum of 10 minutes for the recitation with 5 minutes allotted for questions from the audience.  As a courtesy to the other presenters, students must be present for the hour in which they are scheduled to perform.

Film presentations: This category is for students who wish to show an original short film of up to 10 minutes in length and allowing for 5 minutes of questions from the audience.  It is recommended that students upload their film to YouTube for presentation during the event as the presentation equipment will have limited software for video play. As a courtesy to the other performers, student presenters must be present for the hour in which their film is scheduled to play.

Students who have been invited by a faculty member to take part in a Discover Day panel should select this presentation format. Presentation instructions will be provided by the faculty member.

Professionalism:

Arrive early to your presentation.  It may take some time to get through the check-in line and then set up, so arrive at least 15-30 minutes early to make sure that you can begin your presentation promptly at the scheduled time.  The presentation schedule cannot be adjusted for tardy presenters.

Make sure to be prepared for your presentation several days in advance of the event.  Don’t wait until the last minute to print a poster or prepare materials.

Decorum:

Student presenters are expected to act as representatives of their university/college. Politely answer questions from visitors and judges, and be courteous to your fellow presenters. When you are not scheduled to present, make sure to view other student presentations and ask questions.  Should an issue arise, you should contact the event organizers before the event day (email: lsuour@lsu.edu) or by visiting the Discover Day Check-In Desk during the event.

Dress Code:

It is advised, but not mandated, that you dress in business casual or business professional for the event. The LSU Career Center can help with professional attire.

College students presenting a poster, oral presentation, performance, art piece, or visual display will be evaluated by a few judges. These judges are faculty, staff, and graduate students who generously volunteer their time to support and celebrate student work.

Please keep in mind that not all judges will have a background specific to your field.  Presenters should explain their work in a way that is clear to a non-expert outside of your discipline.

Below are the rubrics that the judges will use to review and score each presentation or poster. Please feel free to look over the rubrics and familiarize yourself with the different areas and categories to help you better prepare for Discover Day.

Art Show Rubric

Humanities & Arts Oral Presentation Rubric

Humanities & Arts Poster Presentation Rubric

STEM Oral Presentation Rubric

STEM Poster Presentation Rubric

Visual Display Rubric

Overall winners - all undergraduate presenters are eligible

Award plaques will be given to the top students in these categories:

Poster presentation
Visual Display presentation 
Oral presentation 
Visual & Performing Arts 

 

Collegiate Monetary prizes - restricted to LSU- BR students 

The following LSU A & M colleges will award $125, $75, and $50 to the top 3 scoring students from their colleges.

Manship School of Mass Communication
College of Music and Dramatic Arts
College of Art and Design
College of Agriculture
College of the Coast and Environment
College of Human Sciences and Education
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
College of Science

The top 3 students from the LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business will be awarded:
1st place - $200
Two runner up prizes of $100 each

The LSU College of Engineering is offering the following prizes for top scoring engineering majors:
Up to 5 of the top individual presenters: $100 prize each.
Up to 5 of the top design teams: $100 per team.

 

Student presenting their research

Group of students at research event

 

Event Information

Friday, April 17, 2026 in the LSU Student Union

Schedule of Events:

The schedule listed below is tentative and will be updated as we near the event date.

 

Time Event Details Location
7:30 am - 6:00 pm Check-in desk open Visitors, judges, moderators, and all student presenters must check-in 2nd Floor East Lobby 
(next to Cotillion Ballroom)
8:15 - 8:45 am Welcome remarks & light breakfast for presenters   Cotillion Ballroom, room 250
9:00 - 11:00 am Morning Oral Presentations Topics: Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, and Arts Capital Chamber, room 329 / Castillian, room 304 / Red River, room 323 / Vieux Carre, room 325
9:00 - 11:00 am Morning Poster Session Topics: STEM Cotillion Ballroom, room 250
11:30 am - 12:30 pm Presenter lunch break Buffet lunch for registered presenters only Lunch ticket will be given at check-in on event day
12:00 - 3:15 pm Afternoon Oral Presentations Topics: STEM Capital Chamber, room 329 / Castillian, room 304 / International, room 303 / Red River, room 323 / Vieux Carre, room 325
1:00 - 3:00 pm Afternoon Poster, Visual Display, & Art Show Session Topics: Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, STEM Cotillion Ballroom, room 250
3:30 - 4:30 pm Careers in Research Panel   Capital Chamber, room 329
5:00 - 6:30 pm Keynote Speech & Awards Ceremony Keynote speaker: TBD Atchafalaya, room 339

 

For All Student Presenters: 

$30 nonrefundable fee.  Payment link will be sent to accepted students via email.

 

For Visitors: 

No fee or registration necessary!  Discover Day presentation events are free and open to the public. See the Visitor Info section.

Louisiana State University is excited to welcome you to our campus for our undergraduate research conference, LSU Discover Day 2026, on Friday, April 17th!  Discover Day will be held in rooms throughout the LSU Student Union located on the corner of Highland Rd and Veterans Drive. 

No registration or fee is required to attend Discover Day as a guest. Just show up at the LSU Student Union and follow the signs to the Discover Day check-in desk!

If you are driving in for the day, or staying at a hotel in town, you will need to drive to campus and find visitor parking.  Some parking is metered while other is "pay ahead" at a kiosk.  See the links below for more information or call the LSU Parking & Transportation Office for more information at 225-578-5000.

The closest visitor parking is in the Union Square Parking Garage located on the corner of East Campus Dr and Veterans Dr., or at the Visitor's parking lot on the corner of Highland and Dalrymple Dr.

Link to information about LSU visitor parking: https://www.lsu.edu/parking/permit/visitor.php

Here is a map of the visitor parking: https://map.concept3d.com/?id=743#!ce/81108?ct/81168,24241?s/

If you have mobility issues and require assistance or special parking permits, please email lsuour@lsu.edu before April 14 so that we can accommodate you.

Have questions about parking or getting around campus?  Call LSU Parking and Transportation at 1-225-578-5000

If you need to stay overnight, the closest hotel is the Cook Hotel (LSU's on-campus hotel). Make your reservation online or by phone: 1-225-383-2665

The Cook Hotel is conveniently located on campus.  You can take the Tiger Trails campus bus for free to a stop by the Parade Grounds/Pleasant hall which is about a block from the Student Union.  You can take either the Purple or Gold line from the hotel.

There are also convenient hotels located downtown and off of Constitution Avenue, all within a 15 minute drive of campus.

Though presenters will be provided lunch at Discover Day, there are plenty of places for visitors to eat in the student union and around LSU's campus. You can check out campus dining options here: https://dineoncampus.com/lsu/whats-on-the-menu

Looking to eat somewhere off-campus?  Here are a few of our favorite nearby restaurants:

The Chimes on Highland Road (Louisiana cuisine)

Drunken Fish (pho & sushi)

Gunpowder Indian Cuisine (indian food)

MJ's Cafe (vegetarian and vegan)

Torchy's Tacos (tacos, burritos, bowls)

Louie's Cafe (classic American diner & LSU favorite!)

Discover Day organizers rely on dozens of volunteers to help with set-up, registration, check-in, and clean-up. You can sign up for as little as one hour and all volunteers will be given a t-shirt.

Check back here for volunteer sign-up form in the spring semester.

We invite faculty, staff, doctoral students, and industry partners to judge student presentations.  You can sign up for as little as one hour of judging. If your student is presenting, you will not be assigned to score your own student.  All judges will be contacted a few days before the event with instructions.

Judging sign-up form will be posted in the spring semester.

Please note that we have transitioned to an online judging format. You will need a smart phone, or tablet with wi-fi capability, to participate as a judge.

The Office of Undergraduate Research is seeking faculty or staff to serve as moderators for our oral presentation sessions.  Moderators are responsible for keeping student presenters to the time schedule, announcing the next presenter, and taking questions from the audience for the presenter to answer.  Moderators must be available for the entire 2-hour oral presentation session.

Those interested in moderating should contact Sarah Ferstel at sferst1@lsu.edu  

 

Logo for Campus Federal Credit Union

Thank You: Campus Federal Credit Union

The Office of Undergraduate Research would like to thank Campus Federal Credit Union for their
generous support of Discover Day 2025 by providing refreshments to presenters and guests throughout the conference. 

 

 

 

 

Aerial view of ballroom during conference

 

 

Past Discover Days

LSU Office of Undergraduate Research proudly reports that the 12th annual LSU Discover Day Undergraduate Research Conference was a great success! With 465 presenting students from LSU and 25 other schools and universities, the event celebrated student research and creative work with poster, oral, art, performance, and visual display presentations. Each of LSU’s 10 senior colleges contributed funds to award their top students selected by over 150 faculty, staff, and graduate student judges. An eager group of future researchers attended our panel on Pursuing Careers in Research, many even staying after the event to continue the discussion with the panelists. None of this could have been possible without the 120+ volunteers who helped set up, ran check-in stations, guided our 100s of visitors, and cleaned up. We were delighted to have had LSU professor of sociology, Dr. Kevin Smiley, as our keynote speaker, whose speech topped off a wonderful day of research celebration.  

2025 Conference Program

Discover Day 2025 Overall Winners

Discover Day 2025 Monetary Winners

The 11th annual LSU Discover Day Undergraduate Research Conference was a great success!  With 379 presenting students from LSU and 22 other schools and universities, the event celebrated student research and creative work with poster, oral, art, performance, and visual display presentations.  Top presenters were selected by the 108 faculty, staff, and graduate student judges for awards in each presentation category.  An eager group of future researchers attended our panel on Pursuing Careers in Research, many even staying after the event to continue the discussion with the panelists. None of this could have been possible without the 92 volunteers who helped with set up, ran check-in stations, guided our 100s of visitors, and cleaned up.  We were delighted to have had LSU professor of environmental sciences, Dr. Margaret Reams, as our keynote speaker, who completed a wonderful day of research celebration.

2024 Conference Program

DISCOVER DAY 2024 OVERALL WINNERS

DISCOVER DAY 2024 MONETARY WINNERS

The 10th annual LSU Discover Day Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium was held in person on Friday, April 19th, 2023 at Louisiana State University's Student Union.  Over 300 undergraduate students from a wide variety of majors and from over 25 different colleges and universities presented art, posters, oral presentations, performances, poetry readings, and more.

Click here to view the Discover Day 2023 Program

discover day 2023 Overall Winners

discover day 2023 monetary winners

The 9th annual LSU Discover Day Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium was held in person on Friday, April 22nd, 2022 at Louisiana State University's Student Union.  Over 300 undergraduate students from a wide variety of majors and from over 20 different colleges and universities presented art, posters, oral presentations, performances, poetry readings, and more.

 
Click here to view the Discover Day 2022 program

discover day 2022 overall winners

discover day 2022 monetary winners

 

The 8th annual LSU Discover Day Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium was held on Thursday, April 15 – Friday, April 16, 2021. Over 160 students from 16 different universities presented their research or creative work virtually to an audience of faculty, graduate students, friends, and family.

CLICK HERE for THE DISCOVER DAY 2021 PROGRAM

discover day 2021 overall winners

discover day 2021 monetary winners

On April 27th and 28th, 2020, the 7th LSU Discover Day undergraduate symposium provided a forum for undergraduate students from any major to share their research and creative works in a virtual event. 104 intrepid undergraduate students braved the frontier of remotely presenting their research online! 

Scroll down to see the list of student presenters and award winners.

CLICK HERE for THE DISCOVER DAY 2020 PROGRAM

discover day 2020 overall winners

discover day 2020 monetary winners

 

On Tuesday, April 9th, 2019, a record 349 undergraduate students from LSU and 16 other universities and colleges presented their research and creative works at the 6th annual LSU Discover Day symposium in the LSU student union. This event provided a forum  for undergraduate students to share their research and creative work with the LSU community and visitors.  

Click here to view the Discover Day 2019 Program

discover day 2019 overall winners

discover day 2019 monetary winners

 

On April 10, 2018, the 5th annual LSU Discover Day undergraduate research and creativity symposium was held in the LSU student union. There were over 200 undergraduate presenters, hundreds of visitors, many fantastic judges, volunteers, and staff members, and one fantastic keynote speaker! Thank you to everyone who came out to LSU Discover Day 2018!

Students from each college at LSU competed in the poster, oral presentation, or the juried art show competition, all of which were judged by LSU faculty, staff, and doctoral students.  Discover Day welcomed student presenters from the University of New Orleans, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Dillard University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Montgomery University, Vanderbilt University, Zamorano University, the University of Mississippi, Southeastern University A&M, Baton Rouge Community College, and Baton Rouge Magnet High School.

Click here to view the Discover Day 2018 Program

discover day 2018 award winners

On April 4, 2017, the 4th annual LSU Discover Day undergraduate research and creativity symposium was held in the LSU student union.  There were 176 undergraduate presenters, 400+ visitors, 89 judges, 40 volunteers, 7 staff members, and one fantastic keynote speaker!

Students from each college at LSU competed in the poster, oral presentation, or the juried art show competition, all of which were judged by LSU faculty, staff, and doctoral students.  New this year, we were very happy to welcome student presenters from the University of New Orleans, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Baton Rouge Community College.

Click here to view the Discover Day 2017 Program

discover day 2017 award winners

Date: April 7, 2016

Location: Cotillion ballroom, LSU Student Union

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

LSU Discover Day 2016 was a big success!

More than 100 student participants from 10 colleges showcased their research & creative projects. Well over 400 people including faculty, staff, students and visitors, attended the event!

Click here to view the Discover Day 2016 Program

Date: March 19, 2015

Location: Cotillion ballroom, LSU Student Union

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Discover Day 2015 was a success!

More than 100 student participants from 9 colleges showcased their research. Around 400 people including faculty, staff, students and visitors, attended the event!

Click here to view the Discover Day 2015 Program 

On March 10, 2014, the inaugural LSU Discover Day research and creativity symposium was hosted. Each college was asked to send 10 students to present a poster or performance in the Student Union ballroom.

Click here to view the LSU Discover Day 2014 program